by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Joe Flacco did a double take as tight end Dallas Clark conducted an interview in the hallway outside the Baltimore Ravens locker room Thursday.

Flacco couldn't resist.

"Sounds like you're talking B.S., Dallas," Flacco said.

Clark laughed.

"I'm stuttering my way through," Clark responded.

He could have well been describing his chemistry with Flacco, one that has grown from sputtering start to smoother sailing in the six-plus weeks the 34-year-old Clark has been on the roster.

"It's coming. It's definitely a battle, but I like where we're at," Clark says of his growing synergy with Flacco. "I'm just getting more and more comfortable with my routes. ... We're trying to keep building on it, keep getting better."

Their comfort level is nowhere close to the near psychic connection Clark developed with then-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for nearly a decade.

But Clark emerged in last Sunday's 30-9 throttling of the Houston Texans as Flacco's go-to tight end over fourth-year pro Ed Dickson. Clark caught four passes for 46 yards with three of his grabs producing first downs. Dickson wasn't targeted once.

Clark signed a one-year, $1.01-million deal soon after Baltimore's top tight end, Dennis Pitta (who also doubles as Flacco's best buddy) was lost to a fractured hip early in training camp.

Clark, who caught 47 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has finally shaken the rust that caused him to drop what appeared to be an easy touchdown in the Ravens' Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Clark credits his improvement to extra film study with Flacco.

"Joe has us in there and goes over where he wants us, what he expects on each play," Clark says of the bonus sessions Flacco conducts with his widoeuts and tight ends.

"That's a huge help so everyone can see the big picture of where they belong, what their responsibilities are."

With a still-evolving, 30th-ranked offense averaging 21.3 points per game, and Flacco completing just three of 17 pass attempts beyond 20 yards according to ProFootballFocus, Clark picked an ideal time to emerge as a chain-moving, security blanket.

"Dallas is getting a better feel for our offense," says offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, who also coached Clark in Indianapolis. "He's doing a much better job of feeling the space he's given. But he's also creating some opportunities for himself in one-on-one situations, making himself available to Joe.

"I think you'll continue to see those guys develop a rapport."

Clark holds the Colts record among tight ends for career receptions (427) and touchdowns (46) and ranks second with 4,887 receiving yards.

The 2003 first-round pick may have lost a step, but Clark is still tough for linebackers to cover. Flacco took advantage of that mismatch against Houston, targeting Clark seven times. Only Torrey Smith (nine targets) was in Flacco's sights more often.

"We got into a rhythm," Flacco said. "There were a couple of times where I could have gone to (slot receiver Brandon) Stokley or Torrey. But I had such a good matchup with Dallas, you have to stick with him.

"When he's matched up on a linebacker, I'm going to trust that he's going to win."

With just one catch for 13 yards and a pair of drops this season, Dickson is counted on for little more than his blocking. He dropped the first pass Flacco threw his way in Baltimore's Week 2 win against the Cleveland Browns and hasn't been heard from since.

He remains optimistic things will change, though.

"My rapport with Joe is constantly building," Dickson says. "I want to get to a level Joe had with Todd Heap or Dennis Pitta. ... It counts that Joe and Dennis are best friends and they spend countless hours off the field together. So when they're out on the field, they mind read each other.

"Joe wants to get our chemistry better. ... He wants to get it right. And we are going to get it right."